Glossary

Tool calling — Glossary

Letting an LLM request structured actions through developer-defined tools or functions.

Also known as: function calling

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Full definition

Tool calling (function calling) returns a structured intent—function name plus arguments—for your runtime to execute. Results are fed back so the model can continue with grounded information.

Design least-privilege toolsets, validate arguments server-side, and require human approval for irreversible actions. See also prompt injection defenses.

Related encyclopedia topic

Tool Calling — Tool calling lets models request structured actions—search, calculators, CRM updates, code execution—through well-defined function interfaces rather than…

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